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sangsmiles's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Racism and Police brutality
Moderate: Death
ali1311's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death and Racism
Moderate: Grief
hollyrebecca's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
'I love you, you know?' She has swum out into open water, and it is not long before you join her. You take but a moment before saying, 'I love you too!’
A uniquely told, beautiful and poignant tale of love and life as a young black man in London.
The love story in this book is heartbreakingly real. From its unfortunate origins, through drunken confessions, warm and joyful summer nights, navigating long distance relationships, to stilted emotional communication and healing from trauma. This is one of the most powerful depictions of love I’ve ever read.
Caleb has used some really interesting writing techniques in this story, including utilising second person and never sharing the male leads name. This lends a sensation of a self-insert story and situates you more deeply in the main character’s headspace throughout.
This book is beautiful and lyrical in its prose while describing the harsh reality of life in London as a young black man, through racism, police brutality, being unseen and being seen as other. The omnipresence of this reality and the resultant trauma it causes are a key feature of this story in the thought processes of our main character.
I have never highlighted so many passages from a book as this, both to enjoy the almost poetic writing and to educate myself on the black experience and black culture.
A powerful read I will forever remember!
You understand. Often, you're not given a name. You would like to take the liberty. But even if you don't name yourself or name your experience, it remains. Rising to the surface, oil swimming in water.
To be you is to apologize and often that apology comes in the form of suppression and that suppression is indiscriminate
Graphic: Death and Racism
peggy_racham's review against another edition
5.0
Second person perspective, my beloved. Never have I read a love story quite so profound and beautifly written and also tragic.
Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Murder, Police brutality, Racism, Alcohol, Drug use, Animal death, Blood, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Death
stellahadz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Side note: I loved all the references to Zadie Smith! I haven't read NW yet but added it to my TBR the second I saw it mentioned in this book.
Moderate: Death, Grief, Police brutality, and Racism
Minor: Blood
kelsreadsthings's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Police brutality and Death
sandwiiche's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
here are some of my favourite quotes:
You have always thought if you opened your mouth in open water you would drown, but if you didn't open your mouth you would suffocate. So here you are, drowning.
It's easier to hide in your own darkness, than to emerge, naked and vulnerable, blinking in your own light. Even here, in plain sight, you're hiding.
There is a difference between being looked at and being seen.
i definitely recommend this -- it will challenge you, open your eyes to the racial injustice that occurs everyday and speak powerful truths into your life.
Graphic: Police brutality, Death, and Racism
Minor: Sexual content
all_yellow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Police brutality and Racism
Moderate: Death and Gun violence
oz2021's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Racism
cass_cgallegos's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I loved that this book has honest depictions of grief and pain and fear, and also joy and love and life in equal amounts. This isn’t just a story of how a Black man endures trauma. This is a story of how a Black man lives in the truth of systemic racism and the hope for joy despite it.
What a stunning story. What an important one.
Moderate: Grief, Death, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Gun violence, and Murder
Minor: Chronic illness